Curcuma plant named ‘Curhalawi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Curcuma  plant named ‘Curhalawi’, characterized by its upright and columnar plant habit with outwardly arching leaves; freely clumping growth habit; leaves with dark brown-colored midveins; freely flowering habit; and flowers with white-colored flower bracts that are positioned just above the foliar plane on strong and erect peduncles.

Botanical designation: Curcuma alismatifolia.

Cultivar denomination: ‘CURHALAWI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Curcumaplant, botanically known as Curcuma alismatifolia and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Curhalawi’.

The new Curcuma plant is a product of a controlled breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new Curcumas that have uniformplant habit, good container performance and attractive inflorescencecoloration.

The new Curcuma plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in July, 2011 in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands of a proprietaryselection of Curcuma alismatifolia identified as code number20071824-002, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Curcuma alismatifolia identified as code number20051899-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newCurcuma plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands inAugust, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Curcuma plant by axillary meristemculture in a controlled environment in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands sinceJanuary, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Curcumaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generationsof asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Curcuma have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Curhalawi’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Curhalawi’ as a new and distinct Curcuma plant:

-   -   1. Upright and columnar plant habit with outwardly arching        leaves.    -   2. Freely clumping growth habit.    -   3. Leaves with dark brown-colored midveins.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Flowers with white-colored flower bracts that are positioned        just above the foliar plane on strong and erect peduncles.

Plants of the new Curcuma differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flowers of plants of the new Curcuma are larger than flowers        of plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Curcuma have larger flower bract apices        than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Curcuma differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Curcuma are more freely clumping than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Curcuma and the male parent selection        differ in flower bract color as plants of the male parent        selection have light pink-colored flower bracts.

Plants of the new Curcuma can also be compared to plants of Curcumaalismatifolia ‘Curblafu’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsplants of the new Curcuma differ from plants of ‘Curblafu’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Curcuma are more freely clumping than        plants of ‘Curblafu’.    -   2. Plants of the new Curcuma have longer leaves than plants of        ‘Curblafu’.    -   3. Plants of the new Curcuma have longer postproduction        longevity than plants of ‘Curblafu’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Curcuma showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible toobtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographsmay differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newCurcuma plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘Curhalawi’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘Curhalawi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 17-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Naaldwijk, The Netherlandsand under cultural practices typical of commercial Curcuma production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 22° C.to 28° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and lightlevels averaged 55 kilolux. Plants were 19 weeks old when thephotographs and the detailed description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Curcuma alismatifolia ‘Curhalawi’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Curcuma            alismatifolia identified as code number 20071824-002, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Curcuma            alismatifolia identified as code number 20051899-001, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By axillary meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About ten days at temperatures about            23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 28 to 30 days at            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and columnar plant habit            with outwardly arching leaves; freely clumping habit with            about 16 basal shoots forming per plant; moderately vigorous            to vigorous.        -   Plant height (soil level to top of inflorescences).—About            66.9 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 80.3 cm.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length, fully expanded.—About 73.3 cm.        -   Width, fully expanded.—About 5.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Sheathing.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Venation.—Parallel.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright, then about 45° from vertical.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            glabrous; matte.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            143C and 144B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close            to 137A; midvein, close to 200C; secondary venation, close            to 137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to            NN137D; venation, close to NN137D.        -   Leaf sheaths.—Length: About 22.2 cm. Width: About 6 mm.            Height: About 7 mm. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Texture and luster,            lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143C; at the edges, close            to 145D; venation, close to 143C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Dense and upright terminal spike inflorescences            developing directly from the basal shoots with numerous            showy flower bracts; typically each spike with about ten            clusters each with three flowers; about 180 flowers            developing per plant.        -   Time to flower.—In The Netherlands, plants flower from            spring into autumn; flowering continuous during this period;            plants begin flowering about 13 to 17 weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about three days on the            plant; flowers not persistent; plants maintain good            substance for about 40 days.        -   Fragrance.—Faint; sweet and somewhat spicy.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.7 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.            Shape: Spatulate to oblanceolate. Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to N155A; towards the            apex, tinged with close to 90D.        -   Inflorescence length.—About 15.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 11 cm.        -   Flowers.—Length: About 4.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm by            2 cm. Shape: Zygomorphic with three petals fused towards the            base; dorsal petal (labellum) is conspicuous and two smaller            lateral petals; calyx with three sepals fused at the base.        -   Petals.—Length, dorsal petal: About 4.5 cm. Length, lateral            petals: About 4.4 cm. Width, dorsal petal: About 1.5 cm.            Width, lateral petals: About 7 mm. Shape, dorsal petal:            Spatulate with praemorse apex. Shape, lateral petals:            Narrowly obovate with obtuse apex. Texture and luster, all            petals, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture and            luster, all petals, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly glossy. Color: When opening and fully opened,            dorsal petal, upper surface: Close to N82B fading towards            the base to close to NN155D; central stripe, close to 14A;            with development, color becoming closer to 71A fading            towards the base to close to 69A to 69B to lighter than 69A            to 69B. When opening and fully opened, lateral petals, upper            surface: Close to NN155D; with development, color becoming            closer to 69A to 69B to lighter than 69A to 69B. When            opening and fully opened, dorsal petal, lower surface: Close            to 85D fading towards the base to close to NN155D; towards            the apex and edges, close to N82A and N82B; with            development, color becoming closer to 71A fading towards the            base to close to 69A to 69B to lighter than 69A to 69B. When            opening and fully opened, lateral petals, lower surface:            Close to NN155D; with development, color becoming closer to            69A to 69B to lighter than 69A to 69B.        -   Sepals.—Length: About 4 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape:            Narrowly obovate with obtuse apex. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When            opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D. Fully            opened, upper and lower surfaces: lose to NN155D.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity: About ten upper bracts and about            ten lower bracts per inflorescence. Length, upper bracts:            About 8 cm. Width, upper bracts: About 3.7 cm. Length, lower            bracts: About 4 cm. Width, upper bracts: About 4.5 cm.            Shape, upper bracts: Ovate, very slightly concave. Shape,            lower bracts: Broadly obovate; strongly concave. Apex, upper            bracts: Acute. Apex, lower bracts: Obtuse. Base, all bracts:            Fused. Margin, upper bracts: Entire. Margin, lower bracts:            Entire; undulate. Texture and luster, upper bracts, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.            Texture and luster, lower bracts, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Upper bracts,            upper surface: Close to NN155B and 157D; towards the base,            and apex, close to 145B. Lower bracts, upper surface: Close            to 143C; distally, close to 143B. Upper bracts, lower            surface: Close to NN155B slightly tinged with close to 157D;            towards the base and apex, close to 145B. Lower bracts,            lower surface: Close to 143C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 51.2 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            matte. Angle: Upright, erect. Color: Close to 137B.        -   Stamens.—Quantity: Two per flower. Filament length: About            1.5 cm. Filament diameter: About 5 mm. Filament color: Close            to 84D. Anther length: About 5.5 mm. Anther width: About            1 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther color: Close to            155A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 155D.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            4 cm. Style length: About 3.8 cm. Style color: Close to            NN155D. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:            Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to NN155D. Ovary color:            Close to 144C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Curcuma to date.-   Disease & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Curcuma have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to    Curcuma.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Curcuma have been observed    to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about    40° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Curcuma plant named ‘Curhalawi’ asillustrated and described.